Young Love

Have you ever come across a blog or web site that you could not get enough of?    That’s just what happened to me when I came across This Young House.    After enjoying myself on their web page for several hours over a few days, I contacted Sherry to see if it would be okay to feature them on my blog and she graciously consented.   

Sherry and John Petersilk are the “youngsters” who bought their 53+ year old home in Richmond, Virginia in 2006 and have been lovingly restoring it.    Along the way, they’ve documented every step, even listing a complete breakdown of costs and sources!   

Their home was featured on HGTV’s Rate My Space; they contribute to R. Home Magazine and Do It Yourself Magazine.  

The youngsters recently were asked to participate in BHG’s 48 hour challenge spending no more than $500.00.   Sherry painted the porch boards in alternating bands of tan and creme, then added pots and plants along with the charming bench and pillows.   You can read the step-by-step process on their web page.

Their web site is chock full of helpful advice, before-and-afters, how-tos; custom mood boards (depending on what you are after, you can get a custom mood board or a personal phone call.)   Check out their fees for their decorating services.

There is a whole section devoted to their mood boards and what eye candy that is!    There is also a source guide for each mood board.

They even got married in their back yard (of course, they did a lot of the landscaping themselves!)

 

 

I could go on and on about the youngsters but for now let’s just feast our eyes on some of their handiwork:

First up is the bedroom.    Take a look at its condition when they first moved in….

….and the after!!!!!!

 

 

 

Those “wardrobes” on either side of the bed are shelving units from Ikea!   Drapes were used to conceal what’s inside.

Den before….

……and after

Kitchen before…….

….Kitchen after – WOW!

 

Sunroom before….

 

Sunroom after…I could enjoy spending some lazy days in this dreamy space

 

Living room/den before….

…and after

Bathroom before…

….After!   Sherry got the long shower curtain on Amazon.

Laundry room before…

….after.  Her roman blinds came from Wal Mart but I found mine at K-Mart.    I can’t find any roman blinds at any of our Wal Mart stores here locally.

 

This laundry room gave me inspiration for when I update mine.    Above my washer and dryer are shelves with no doors.   I have bought the roman blinds and can’t wait to get started on refreshing/renewing my own laundry room.    Of course, I will share pics after!

Now let’s take a look at some of their amazing makeovers:

Here’s a room that was sent in by one client along with a list of things she would like and what had to stay and what could go:

 

 

Here’s a before picture of another make over….

 

Who wouldn’t enjoy this soothing, calming space now?

 

Here’s the mood board for the above bedroom

 

By  now, I’m sure you can’t wait to check out Sherry and John’s web site.    I can guarantee you that you’ll spend hours oohing and aahing over it, just like I did.    You might even be inspired to have them prepare a mood board for a special place in your home.

 

This weekend hubby and I are heading out for a little get-a-way.    First stop, Angels Flea Market in Opelika, then on to Atlanta where we’re planning on checking out House Parts, then on to Marietta where I’m looking forward to visting the Classy Flea.     We’ll work in a trip to the Ikea store and hopefully Ballards Backroom as well.   

I’ll have lots of pictures to share when I get back so until then……

Have a wonderful week and weekend!

Just Us Girls

Last year my sister and I decided we’d try and do an annual “girl’s weekend” somewhere special every year…..no guys allowed!    On our first “girl’s weekend” about a year ago, she took her daughter (who had just found out she was pregnant) and her little grandson, Mason.    I took my daughter, DIL, and two granddaughters and we all went to Panama City Beach, Florida.    You can read all about that trip here.

This past year has been very hectic and life-changing for my sister.    Thankfully, things have settled down for her and her life is somewhat back to “normal” (whatever that is!)

So she and I decided to have a very relaxing, peaceful, stress-free weekend (which meant no husbands or grandkids) and take our mom to the lake for the weekend.     She got off early from work on Friday and after mom got out of the beauty shop (she’s almost 89 and gets that hair done weekly!) we took off for Lake Martin!

My sister’s lake house is not one of the “mega-mansions” and it’s not professionally decorated, but it is so homey and comfortable.

Here’s the view from the top of the driveway looking out at the lake.

Coming around the sidewalk to the front of the house you look out to the deck

 

Sunset on Friday night

This is the lake home of one of her neighbors….an oncologist  (sp?) in Birmingham.   

 

 

Another lake home across from my sister’s…..it looked like they were having a family reunion!

Here’s the room I stayed in….those windows look right out on the lake…stunning view!

  

Saturday morning found my sister and mom checking things out on the deck…..not bad for 88 years old!

Just a few miles from the lake is a neat little antique shop/flea market type place.    I’ve been there a few times so we decided to check it out Saturday morning.

 

For all you locals, this little place is located on Hwy. 9, just past Santuck at the flashing light.

 

This was a really pretty piece but you can see it needed a lot of work.   

I know some of ya’ll will love the size of this birdcage….and a “used” one from the looks of it!

 

I love trays and I meant to go back and pick this one up.    I think it was $12.00!

 

 

Here’s an old-fashioned highchair in that yummy robin’s egg blue so many of us like

 

I wish you could see this front door…it was really pretty.

Before we went inside, I spied what looked to be a secret garden out back and when we meandered down the path, I was not disappointed…..just look at what was back there….

Crusty, rusty, chippy old glider!

 

 

And look at this wonderful ivy covered bottomless chair.    I have a couple of these chairs that I use in my yard but I just put a potted plant in them.  

 

 

But this is what stole my heart…..an old wooden swing, ivy covered frame and for those sweltering afternoons, a fan and light!   

Can’t you just image sitting here with your sweetie, cold glass of ice tea in hand, smelling the honeysuckle, and just a-swinging away!

 

 

Just up the road from my sister’s lake house is the gorgeous horse farm.    While it’s not on the lake, I think it’s setting more than makes up for a water view

 

 

 

Saturday night we went over to Sinclair’s.    My hubby and I love to eat here and we go to Sinclair’s quite a bit in the summer and early fall.    You can ‘drive’ your boat up and walk right in or drive, which is what we did Saturday night as we did not get the boats out of the boathouse…..we needed the fellas for that!

 

There was a wedding reception going on while we were there and I took a few pictures of that.    These last two pictures really touched me…..here’s a sweet little princess walking on the dock with her “paw-paw”……priceless!

 

I have to tell ya’ll that all was not smooth sailing for me this weekend.   Friday night my sister could not get the hot water turned on in my bathroom.   The back part of the cabin is an add-on and it has separate everything.    FINALLY we got it figured out by Saturday afternoon.

THEN, Saturday morning I got locked in the bathroom!    I was hollering and screaming for her or my mom like crazy.    Did I mention that I’m claustraphobic?    I started having a panic attack so I decided to go out the window.    Now this window is not your average size window, just a very small bathroom window, but I got the window open, pushed out the screen and squeezed myself through the narrow window and to the ground.    I now am sporting bruises on both arms and many aches and pains…..it’s funny now, but it sure wasn’t then!

I also want to thank everyone for your kind words on my last post about ‘Mr. Ed.’   

And last but not least, a few weeks ago, I said I would not be blogging as much because my hubby was feeling a little left out, and we can’t have that, now can we?    Since then, we spend at least one night with no TV, no phones, just sitting and talking, having our devotional time, and just enjoying spending time together.    We are even planning a little 3 day get-away….not sure where right now or when, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a trip to Atlanta (think Ikea, Classy Flea, Scott’s Antique weekend, etc.) but the most important thing is, we’ll be having a good time, just the two of us!

Later this week I’ll be posting about an exciting new-to-me blog, full of inspiration!   I think you will enjoy it so don’t forget to check back for that.

Love ya’ll!